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Support
Tourism Marketing Funding;
Urge Legislature to Restore Deleted Funds
Click here to send a letter to the legislature on this
important issue.
The Southwest California Legislative Council supports
renewing California's investment in tourism marketing.
Historically, the tourism industry has assessed itself to
raise private funds for marketing California. These private
funds were matched by state funds to reflect the increased
tax revenue the state receives from visitors in a public
private partnership.
However, the budget crisis has resulted in two years of no
state contribution to the tourism-marketing act. This has
left private businesses raising approximately $7 million in
marketing funds, placing California 31st in the nation in
promotion. As a result, our state share of domestic travel
has dropped.
Governor Schwarzenegger has proposed a return to the
public-private partnership with $7.3 million in state funds
this year. Unfortunately, the Legislature is not cooperating
in restoring this important funding. While we were able to
persuade each house of the Legislature to approve more than
$7 million in state funding, the entire funding was stricken
by the budget conference committee. This action forces this
funding into the high-risk "Big Five" budget negotiations
between legislative leadership and the Governor.
Click here to send a letter to the legislature on this
important issue.
Tourism Facts
- Total direct travel spending in California was $82.5
billion in 2004.
-
During 2004, travel spending in California directly
supported 892,600 jobs.
-
Travel spending generated 261,500 jobs in food service,
220,500 jobs in arts, entertainment and recreation, and
192,200 jobs in accommodations.
-
Travel spending in 2004 generated $1.9 billion in local
taxes and $3.3 billion in state taxes, of which
approximately $500 million was tax revenue from motor
fuel.
- A recent
study commissioned by the state shows that every dollar
invested in promoting travel to California returns $19
in state and local taxes.
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